A message from the Dean
Dear Colleagues:
I have refrained for nearly a week from contributing to the flood of emails that accompany
the start of the year. But I have some news to share and did not want to wait any
longer.
I would be remiss if I did not start this message by saying welcome back to this new
academic year. I hope each of you had a great summer, with time to recharge above
all else. I know that summers are also a time for research and reflection for many
of us, so I hope you had success on those fronts as well.
I want to personally write to share the news that the Post 3rd Year Review Pre-Tenure Leave Policy is now finalized and live on our website. I announced this policy last fall as one
of several initiatives to support research as a result of what I heard from you during
my listening tour more than a year ago. While the final policy is being circulated
now, I view the date of its adoption as last fall. As such, it will apply to any faculty who had successful 3rd Year Reviews during the 2021-22 academic year as well as to all faculty who have
successful 3rd Year Reviews this academic year and moving forward.
This policy is just one of many efforts we are making to support faculty success.
As you know, we adopted a course banking policy last year, and I expect us to finalize
an Indirect Cost Return Policy this academic year, ideally by the end of the current
semester. As we announced in an email earlier today, we are also launching two new
College-wide committees this fall – one focused on developing College By-Laws, the
other focused on the College Budget. These are just a few of the steps we have taken
over the past 12 months to create more opportunities for faculty input and governance
at the College level. I look forward to continuing to work with you and hear from
you to find ways to increase these opportunities and to support you in all that you
do.
In the meantime, I hope to see you (virtually) at our College-wide faculty meeting
next month and in person in smaller settings at unit faculty meetings during the year.
I have encouraged chairs and directors to identify times for me to visit faculty meetings
so we can spend time together in smaller settings.
I hope the academic year gets off to a good start for each of you.
Warmly,
Joel
Joel H. Samuels (he/him/his)
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
Executive Director, Rule of Law Collaborative
University of South Carolina
Office: (803) 777-7161